Mokena Meteor Music
October 12 - 18, 2018
What is happening in the music department?
I will be sending a Newsletter similar to this every week (usually on Fridays).
Please be sure to read it in its entirety as I often update sections each week.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Marching Meteors who performed in exhibition this last Saturday at the Lincoln-Way Marching Band Invitational at Lincoln-Way West High School. The students did great. If you are a member of our Facebook group, you can check out their performance there.
Our monthly Music Booster meeting will take place this Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mokena Junior High School Central Learning Center. Please come out and find out what our Music Boosters are up to and how you can help support your child and their music programs.
Important Information
Private Music Lessons
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman
Pep Band and Jazz Band Interest
Concert Attire
If your child already has the required uniform, please make sure they try it on ahead of time. There's nothing worse than trying to fit into a pair of pants you have grown out of 30 minutes before the concert!
Students are also required to wear black DRESS pants. No crop pants, yoga pants, athletic pants or black denim will be permitted. Students need to own a good pair of straight leg dress pants.
Students should wear black socks that cover their ankles. We don't want to see ankles when we sit down!
Also, shoes should be completely black.
I have included some photos of these items below.
Hamilton!

The first installment was due last week. If you did not pay$150, the next installment of $50 is due on Wednesday, October 31 and the final amount is due on Wednesday, November 28.
Here are the trip details:
- When? Tuesday, January 8th
- Time? We will depart from MJH after 3pm, head downtown for dinner, and then see the 7:30 performance of Hamilton. We should arrive back at MJH around 11pm
- Who? All MJH Choir and Band students are invited to register - up to 105 students may attend
- Apparel? Students are expected to dress nicely to attend this performance
- Cost? The cost of the trip will be approximately $150 - it may go up or down slightly depending on bus and gas prices, but it should stay near $150. This includes transportation, dinner, and the ticket price for the show. Students can use fundraised IBA money to pay for this trip!
Students can pay one of four ways:
1) IBA Transfer if you have money in your account. You may combine this payment with other forms.
2) Cash - Please put it in an envelope clearly marked
3) Check - Please make your check payable to the Mokena Music Boosters
4) Paypal via your Charms account. Please note that there is a $2 convenience fee.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.
Tonal Energy App - Highly Recommended

TonalEnergy Tuner is an all-inclusive, easy to use application designed for individual practice and/or large ensemble rehearsals that aides musicians to improve sound quality and intonation.
Tuning, volume, articulation, release, duration, and steadiness are the key elements of developing a beautiful tone quality. TonalEnergy Tuner is the first multi-purpose application that allows users of all ages to understand and improve every aspect of their sound.
This app is especially useful to young brass players who struggle to find the correct partial. Oftentimes they think they are playing the correct pitch, when in fact, they are not. This can be very frustrating. This app can help students learn where the correct partial is and to hear when they are not matching the correct pitch.
In addition to its tuner capabilities, it has a built in metronome to keep students rehearsing with a steady beat!
We highly recommend that all students in our band program invest in this application if they have access to a device. It is well worth the $3.99 it costs. This is much more inexpensive than a separate metronome and tuner device.
Facebook Page
Check Your Charms Account Balances
You should have received a monthly Charms statement on or about October 1. Please check your balances in Charms at any time by logging into your child's account. If money is due, please pay one of four ways:
- Cash (in an envelope clearly marked)
- Check made payable to the Mokena Music Boosters - write who and what it is for in the memo line
- Paypal via the Paypal button on your Charms account
- IBA Transfer - please complete the online transfer form: https://goo.gl/forms/MOZFB8jurkbF7ByR2
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean
Fall Concert Itinerary


Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!
8th Grade Sectional Schedule MONDAY - OCTOBER 15 8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP E 9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP F 9:49 - 10:19 - GROUP G 10:33 - 11:03 - GROUP A 11:17 - 11:45 - GROUP B 12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP C 1:16 - 1:44 - GROUP D Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. | 7th Grade Sectional Schedule WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 17 EARLY RELEASE - NO SECTIONALS | 6th Grade Sectional Schedule FRIDAY - OCTOBER 19 8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP A 9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP C 9:46 - 10:14 - GROUP D 10:14 - 10:42 - GROUP E 11:47 - 12:15 - GROUP G 12:17 - 12:47 - GROUP H 1:02 - 1:32 - GROUP I Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. |
8th Grade Sectional Schedule
8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP E
9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP F
9:49 - 10:19 - GROUP G
10:33 - 11:03 - GROUP A
11:17 - 11:45 - GROUP B
12:48 - 1:16 - GROUP C
1:16 - 1:44 - GROUP D
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
6th Grade Sectional Schedule
8:48 - 9:16 - GROUP A
9:16 - 9:44 - GROUP C
9:46 - 10:14 - GROUP D
10:14 - 10:42 - GROUP E
11:47 - 12:15 - GROUP G
12:17 - 12:47 - GROUP H
1:02 - 1:32 - GROUP I
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
5th Grade Cadet Band Sectional ScheduleTUESDAY, OCTOBER 16 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP B 9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP C 9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP D 10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP E 11:20 - 11:50 - GROUP F WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP G 9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP H 9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP A If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean to schedule it. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher. | 4th Grade Beginning Band Sectional ScheduleTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP G 9:05 -- 9:35 - GROUP J 9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP I 10:05 - 10:35 - GROUP A 10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP B 12:00 - 12:30 - GROUP C1 12:30 - 1:00 - GROUP C2 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP E 9:05 - 9:35 - GROUP H 9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP D If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean to schedule it. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher. Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work. | What Group is My Student in for Sectionals? All students will receive a page with their group on it. If a student can't remember which group they are in, it is their responsibility to contact their band director to find out. |
5th Grade Cadet Band Sectional Schedule
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP B
9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP C
9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP D
10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP E
11:20 - 11:50 - GROUP F
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP G
9:20 - 9:50 - GROUP H
9:50 - 10:20 - GROUP A
If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean to schedule it. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher.
4th Grade Beginning Band Sectional Schedule
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP G
9:05 -- 9:35 - GROUP J
9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP I
10:05 - 10:35 - GROUP A
10:35 - 11:05 - GROUP B
12:00 - 12:30 - GROUP C1
12:30 - 1:00 - GROUP C2
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
8:35 - 9:05 - GROUP E
9:05 - 9:35 - GROUP H
9:35 - 10:05 - GROUP D
If your child needs to do a make up Sectional, please have them talk to Ms. Beekman or Mrs. Bussean to schedule it. They need to get prior approval from their classroom teacher.
Students are responsible for getting to Sectionals on time and for notifying their classroom teachers IN ADVANCE. Students are also responsible for getting any missed work.
SPAMalot! Auditions are THIS Monday and Tuesday with Call Backs taking place on Thursday. Call Backs will be posted on Tuesday evening on our website and will be posted in the band hallway on Wednesday morning. Crew will not meet until approximately March. I will be looking for an Assistant Director and a Dance Captain. Those applications will be available in October/November. I am very excited to get started on this year's production! | Charms WebsiteCharms is software that will keep track of all our events on a live, interactive on-line calendar - available to all students, members and adults by group. Teachers are able to send mass e-mails, record and blast phone messages and send free text messages. We are able to upload handouts, sound files, short videos, assignments, audition materials, maps, pictures and more for students, members and parents to access 24/7, either on their computers or on their mobile devices. Parents and students can log into their Charms website by following the link: www.charmsoffice.com Our school code is MokenaMusic and your password is your child's Student ID number (available on Skyward). If you have previously signed into Charms, your password is the one you set up. If you need your password reset, please contact Mrs. Bussean at busseank@mokena159.org and she can help you. | Practice Logs PRACTICE LOGS ARE DUE EVERY SUNDAY! For now, 4th graders do not need to worry about this. We will let them know when they should begin documenting their practice time. Once again, practice logs will be required weekly through the Charms system. Practice logs are due EVERY Sunday before midnight. Students should enter their time in the Charms Website. We will be implementing a new grading scale this year, but the minimum practice requirements will stay the same. Symphonic/Concert Bands 100 minutes Beginning/Cadet Bands 75 minutes |
SPAMalot!
Call Backs will be posted on Tuesday evening on our website and will be posted in the band hallway on Wednesday morning.
Crew will not meet until approximately March. I will be looking for an Assistant Director and a Dance Captain. Those applications will be available in October/November.
I am very excited to get started on this year's production!
Charms Website
Charms is software that will keep track of all our events on a live, interactive on-line calendar - available to all students, members and adults by group. Teachers are able to send mass e-mails, record and blast phone messages and send free text messages. We are able to upload handouts, sound files, short videos, assignments, audition materials, maps, pictures and more for students, members and parents to access 24/7, either on their computers or on their mobile devices.
Parents and students can log into their Charms website by following the link: www.charmsoffice.com
Our school code is MokenaMusic and your password is your child's Student ID number (available on Skyward). If you have previously signed into Charms, your password is the one you set up.
If you need your password reset, please contact Mrs. Bussean at busseank@mokena159.org and she can help you.
Practice Logs
Once again, practice logs will be required weekly through the Charms system.
Practice logs are due EVERY Sunday before midnight. Students should enter their time in the Charms Website.
We will be implementing a new grading scale this year, but the minimum practice requirements will stay the same.
Symphonic/Concert Bands
100 minutes
Beginning/Cadet Bands
75 minutes

September/October, 2018
10/16/18 - Music Booster Meeting 7:00 at MJHS
10/19/18 - First Quarter Ends
10/23/18 - Fall Concert at MJHS
...................Beginning Band and Cadet Band - 6:00
...................Concert and Symphonic Band and Choir - 7:30
10/26/18 - Report Card Day